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MEMOIR OF GOV. JOHN BROOKS. 



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MEMOIR OF JOHN BROOKS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Communicated by Rev. Chaeles Brooks, A.M., of Medford, Mass., to the New England 
Historical and Genealogical Register. 

John Brooks was born in Medford, Massachusetts, and was bap- 
tized May 31, 1752. His father, Caleb Brooks, and his mother, Ruth 
Albree, were born in Medford, and died there ; both possessing good 
health, strong minds and Christian characters. The tragic history of 
his grandfather John Albree, who was born on the island of New-Pro- 
vidence in 1688, and was brought to Boston in ITOO, is recorded in 
the History of Medford. Mrs. Brooks early discovered in her son 
John the signal traits, which herald distinction ; and her bright 
genius and loving heart were not long in devising the means of de- 
veloping his abilities. He was initiated into Latin and Greek ; and at 
the age of fourteen Dr. Simon Tufts (H. C. 1767) received him into his 
family as a student ; and the learning and discipline of the teacher, 
together with the sound good sense of the pupil, supplied the defi- 
ciencies of a collegiate education. He early showed a taste for mili- 
tary affairs ; and was chosen captain of the " boy's company " he 
raised. His royal love of command secured to him great influence, and 
Dr. Tufts's grounds were frequent witnesses to " the pomp and circum- 
stance of glorious war." Remaining with his patron till the age of 
twenty-one, he then commenced the practice of medicine in Reading, 
where, in 1774, he married the beautiful Miss Lucy Smith. Their 
children were Lucy, who was born June 16, 1775 ; Alexander Scam- 
mell, born Oct. 19, 1781 ; and John, born May 20, 1783. Lucy mar- 
ried Rev. John Okill Stuart, of Kingston, C. W., Oct. 2, 1803, and 
died in 1813, leaving one child, George Okill Stuart, who is the old- 
est surviving descendant of Gov. Brooks, and who is a counsellor at 
law of high standing ; and has been mayor of Quebec. Alexander 
married Miss Sarah Turner, of Boston, May 28th, 1817. Their chil- 
dren were John and Lucy. 

Their daughter Lucy married Hon. Edward L. Keyes, May 80th, 
1843. Their children were Caroline Florence, born March 23, 1844 ; 
Alexander S. Brooks, born July 28, 1846, and George Stuart, his 
twin ; Edward Livingston, born Sept. 26, 1848. Edw. L. Keyes 
died June 6th, 1859, aged 47. 

John Brooks never married. For manly beauty and grace he had 
no rival. He commenced the study of medicine under his father's 
1 



direction ; but a commission in the navy drew him into the United 
States service, where he distinguished himself; and as a Lieutenant 
stood at the side of Commodore 0. 11. Perry, in the decisive battle on 
Lake Erie, Sept. 10th, 1813. A cannon ball severed one leg from his 
body at the hip, and he died after two hours. 

Commodore Ferry wrote to his father thus : — "Lake Erie, Sept'. 12, 
1813. Sir, It is with heart-felt pain 1 am under the necessity of com- 
municating to you the irreparable loss which you and our country 
have sustained in the death of your gallant and worthy son, Lieut. 
John Brooks. He fell in the action with the English Squadron at the 
head of Lake Eric, on tlie 10th inst., while nobly animating his men to 
their duty. I sympathize with you most sincerely, and am, with high 
respect, Your Obd. Servt. 0. II. Perry." 

The 19th of April, 17T5, sounded a nation's summons to the patri- 
otic and the brave. The young physician ol Reading heard it, and 
sprang from his bed before daj'light, and was soon leading his com- 
pany of "minute-men '' towai'ds Concord, where he first saw the ene- 
my. Perceiving they had to pass a bridge and causeway, and must 
call in their flank guards, he took a position behind a wall and fired 
on them with effect as they passed the narrow defile. lie pursued them 
to Charlestown Neck, killing several ; but shielded his men so judi- 
ciously as to lose none. He was very busy with Col. Prcscott through 
the night of the IGth of June ; and was selected by him to go to Cam- 
bridge and explain to Gen. Ward the reasons for sending reinforce- 
ments to Bunker Hill. He was obliged to walk. The historian says : 
— " His conduct entitled him to great credit in the arrangements of the 
memorable 17th of June." His skill in the combinations of military 
manoeuvres had the ease of a natural gift. He dedicated his whole 
Boul to his country ; and so eflScient were his labors that on the first 
of January, 1776, he received the following from Congress : — " We, 
reposing special trust in your patriotism, valor, conduct and fidelity, 
do, by tliose presents, constitute and appoint you to be Mojor of the 
19th regiment of foot, commanded by Col. Charles Webb. By order 
of Congress, John Hancock, Pres." 

He was promoted to the rank of Lieut. Colonel in 1777. He took 
the post of danger in the battle of Saratoga, Oct. 7, 1777. The his- 
torian says : — " On the left of Arnold's detachment, Jackson's regi- 
ment of Massachusetts, then led by Lieut. Col. Brooks, was still 
more successful. It turned the right of the encampment, and carried 
by storm the Avorks occupied by the German reserve. Lieut. Bray- 
man was killed ; and Brooks maintained the ground he had gained. 
This advantage of the Americans was decisive." 

Another historian, member of the army, says : — " The capture of 
Gen. Burgoyne and his army may be attributed in no small degree to 
the gallant conduct of Col. Brooks and his regiment, on the 7th of Oc- 
tober, in the battle of Saratoga." 

In 1819 the Hon. Roger Wolcott Williams, of Connecticut, gave me 
a miinute account of Col. Brooks's skill and bravery on that occasion. 
I will only mention the central fact. " When the Col. saw that the 
decisive moment had come, he lifted his sword in the air and cried, 
' Follow your Col. at double quick.' He immediately led the way to 
the top of the entrenchments, crying, come on, come on. They did 
come on ; and the most violent and bloody conflict ensued, in which 



they decided the fate of the day." There wore 5,152 prisoners taken. 

It it not necessary to repeat the history of his hibors and skill at 
Dorchester Heights, Long Island, White Plains and other places. 
The historian says: — " There were scax'cely any important services 
performed in the northern and central operations of the army in which 
he did not act a conspicuous part." 

One quotation from an eye-witness will more than justify all I have 
stated. He says: "The confidence which Washington reposed in 
Ool. Brooks, was shown on many occasions ; and particularly in call- 
ing him to his councils in that terrible moment, when at Newburgh, 
in March, 1*783, a conspiracy of some of the officers had well nigh 
disgraced the army and ruined the country. On this occasion the 
commander-in-chief, to ivhom this tvas the most anxious moment of his 
life, rode up to Col. Brooks with the intent to ascertain how the 
officers stood afiected. Finding him, as he expected, to be sound, he 
requested him to keep his officers within quarters, to prevent them 
from attending the insurgent meeting. Brooks replied — ' Sir, I have 
anticipated your wishes, and my orders ai'e given.' Washington, 
with tears in his eyes, took him by the hand and said, — Colonel 
Brooks, this is just what I expected from you." 

In private papers, left by Gov. Brooks, there is evidence of his 
early conviction that Armstrong was the author of the anonymous 
insurrectionary letter of Newburgh. 

The high estimate made by Gen. Washington of Col. Brooks's tal- 
ents and character, is shown in an unpublished letter, dated — " Head 
Quarters, 24th Mai'ch, 1718." A few extracts are as follows : — " With 
a view of establishing uniformity of discipline and manoeuvres in the 
army, it is in agitation to form an inspectorship distributed among differ- 
ent officers. The Baron Steuben, a gentleman of high military rank, 
profound knowledge and great experience in his profession, is placed at 

the head of this department As the office of Sub-inspector 

cannot be filled with propriety but by men whose character and abili- 
ties will give them influence and ensure their success, I would make 
choice of gentlemen who unite those advantages ; and in my own 

mind have fixed on you as one There will be an additional 

share of duty incident to the office, which will probably be considered 
in determining the emoluments ; but will more especially be com- 
pensated by the honor and respectability attached to it. 

" If you choose to accept the appointment, you will be pleased to 
acquaint me immediately with your intentions, that I may have you 
relieved. The time for action advances with hasty strides ; we should 
therefore improve every minute ; and the sooner you enter on the 
function of Sub-inspector the more likely will you be to reap the satis- 
faction of doing essential service to the army. 

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, 

G. Washington." 

He accepted the office, and performed its duties so thoroughly as 
to be several times referred to, by Gen. Washington, as an example. 
He tempered an iron decision with a gentlemanly mildness as very 
few men can. His uniform and efficient love of • his men, caring for 
them and doing for them as if each was a brother, won the hearts of 
his soldiers. 

Gen. Lafayette's letters to Gov. Brooks are full of expressions of 
ftaternal regard. One short extract will suffice as an example. 



" New York, Sept. 20, 1824. 

My dear Friend, Col. Huger, my noble deliverer from the 

Olmutz prison, whose enterprise and sufferings you well know, is 
going to Boston. I am sure you will be glad to see him ; and 1 take 

this opportunity to let you hear from me Receive, my dear 

Friend, the aflectionate and grateful wishes of your old brother sol- 
dier. Remember me to family and friends ; and believe me forever 
most tenderly attached to you. Lafayette." 

The following record shows that the Major General of the Massa- 
chusetts militia was needed at Cambridge : 

" At a meeting of the President and Fellows of Ilarvard University, 
July 14, 1786, Voted, — That John Brooks, Esq. be requested to give 
his attendance at the University on Commencement day and night, 
and the day and night following, to assist in preserving peace and good 
order during that season. Joseph Willard, President." 

After the conclusion of the war. Col. Brooks was invited by Dr. 
Tufts to take his place as the physician of Medford ; and this was a 
very popular arrangement. lie accepted ; and on the 18th of October, 
1T86, was elected a fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society ; of 
which Society he was a counsellor in 1803 ; and before which he de- 
livered, in 1808, the annual address, on Pneumonia. He was chosen 
President of the Society after he had left the chair of State, and kindly 
remembered it in his will. Dr. Dixwell says: "As a physician he 
ranked in the first class of practitioners. lie possessed in an eminent 
degree those qualities which were calculated to i-ender him the most 
useful in his professional labors, and the delight of those to whom he 
administered relief. His manners were dignified, courteous and be- 
nign. He was sympathetic, patient and attentive. His mind was 
well furnished with scientific and practical knowledge." 

One so distinguished for sound judgment, lofty principle and pa- 
tient labor could not be spared from the public service. Washington 
and Adams both selected him for public trusts. Sept. 12, 1191, he 
was appointed, by Jefferson, Marshal of the district of Massachusetts ; 
and Nov. 6, 1795, this commission was renewed. Dec. 22d, 1796, he 
received the appointment of " Inspector of the revenue for Survey 
No. 2, in the district of Massachusetts." 

Of militaiy titles he had many : that of IMajor in 1776 ; that of 
Brevet Colonel in 1787 ; that of Major General in the Massacliusetts 
third division in 1786 ; that of Brigadier General in the United 
States Army in 1792. 

Tlio following records belong to the biography of General 
Brool-.s, "Monday, March 81, 1800. The following written mes- 
sage was received from the President of the United States, by Mr, 
Shaw, his Secretary : — 

" Gentlemen of the Senate. I nominate John Brooks, of Massachu- 
setts, to be a Major G(!neralin tlie army, in iihtee of Henry Knox, who 
has declined the appointment. ' Jonx Adajis." 

" The message was read. — Ordered that it be laid over for con- 
sideration." 

"April 1st, 1800. The message nominating John Brooks as Major 
General was considered, and the further consideration postponed." 

I have carefully sought the reasons alleged for this decision ; but 



5 

have found none. Seeing President John Adams very often during 
the last years of his life, I well remember how cordially and fully he 
approved of the character and conduct of Gen. Brooks. I think the 
action of the Senate was based on the idea, that New England had 
already too many Major Generals. 

Dr. Dixwell says : — " Almost every institution of a literary, reli- 
gious, patriotic, benevolent or professional character seemed to vie with 
each other in conferring their highest honors on him." The honorary 
degree of A.M. was conferred on him by Yale College in 1181 ; by 
Hai'vard College in 1787. In 1810 Harvard College conferred on him 
the degree of M.D. ; and in 1817 its highest degree, LL.D. lie was 
selected to deliver the first oration before the Cincinnati, July 4th, 
1787 ; and after the death of Gen. Lincoln, the first President, was 
chosen his successor. He was a member of the American Academy 
of Arts and Sciences ; President of the Bunker Hill Monument Asso- 
ciation ; and President of the Massachusetts Bible Society. From 
the office of Justice of the Peace, which he received from Gov. Han- 
cock, Jan. 28, 1785, to his resignation of the gubernatorial chair, he 
was never in want of civic honors. He was elected deacon of the 
first church in Medford ; but declined only on account of his age. 

In the short notice of Governor Brooks here inserted, it is not pro- 
posed to speak of his whole life or labors. His domestic character 
was as beautiful a specimen of nobility and love as was ever shown. 
While Governor I saw him go into our kitchen, sit down before the 
fire and make some wine-whey for his sick cousin. He would allow 
no one to help him. 

He was not accustomed to select the defects or faults of others as 
topics of conversation. He loved to dwell on the character of Wash- 
ington and his fellow officers of the army. I once asked him to sketch 
the character of Major Gen. Lincoln. He sent me the following : — 

" I was more acquainted with Gen. Lincoln as a man than as a sol- 
dier. His manners were dignified, but plain, and wholly free from 
ostentation. As a man he was remarkable for cool deliberation ; for 
great good sense and sound judgment ; for inflexible integrity and a 
straight forward course of action. He thought much, and had his 
opinions, but they were his own. He was no bigot in religion, nor 
enthusiast in politics. He had the faculty of communicating his views 
distinctly, and of bringing others to a coincidence of opinion with 
himself, yet was no dogmatist. His suavity arose from an unatfected 
ease and simplicity of manner, and from the artless power he pos- 
sessed of impressing on other minds the fulness of his own con- 
victions. With great benignity of disposition he was steady in 
executing his purposes : hence, though he often disappointed others, 
he seldom offended them. He was judiciously communicative ; but 
never garrulous. Nature denied him fluency, and a consciousness of 
it might have induced a degree of occasional reserve, which in some 
men would have passed for pride. When most retired and taciturn, he 
would appear cheerful and be pleased with the converse and humor 
of others ; and never indicated anything like haughtiness or austeri- 
ty. Though plethoric and inclined to obesity. Gen. Lincoln could 
endure (especially before he received his wound, in October, 1777), 
great exercise and fatigue : and being no epicure, could sustain him- 
self as long and as patiently as any one on the humblest fare of a 
common soldier.'' The letter was never finished. 



Another unpublished letter of Gov. Brooks refers to the complaints 
connected with the burial of the English Gen. Frazer ; and is as fol- 
lows : — 

" Dear Sir, " Medford, Nov. 9, 1820. 

I thank you for sending nic Prof. Silliman's ' Short Tour from Hart- 
ford to Quebec ; ' and it gives me great pleasure to see that you take 
so lively an interest in the reputation of our country as connected 
with the temper and conduct of the army of the American Revolution. 
As I was not present with the ' advance corps ' of the army, 
under the immediate command of Gen. Lincoln, on the 8th of October, 
1777, I could have no knowledge of the circumstances to which your 
letter relates. The oflScial communications of Gen. Burgoync to his 
government, dated immediately after his surrender, but not publislied 
in America until many months afterwards, gave me the first informa- 
tion that our cannon had annoyed the British army while performing 
the rites of sepulchre at the interment of Gen. Frazer. It was long- 
after this that I heard the explanation given to the cannonade, which 
you mention as having been received by you from our late worthy 
friend Major Gen. Winslow. But, whether he ever gave that expla- 
nation to mo or not, I Avould not now venture to affirm. Gen. Bur- 
goyne, you are sensible, was garrulous and sometimes eloquent ; but, 
as his inflated, fulminating and sanguinary proclamations did not 
deter the American army of freemen from meeting his bayonets, so 
neither did the plaintive and dolorous description of the interment of 
Gen. Frazer, after a signal defeat, in a moment of dismay and retreat, 
and during a cannonade from our batteries, make any impression on 
my judgment as to the nature of that transaction ; and I confess that 
I feel perfectly willing that the account, as stated by Gen. Burgoyne 
himself, should go down to posterity, if the future historians of his 
nation should think fit to perpetuate the whining plaints of an osten- 
tatious, nrisjudgiug and luckless chief. I presume that no impartial 
military man has imagined, or ever will imagine, the conduct of the 
American army, in the instance in question, as violating the laws of 
war or humanity. The accomplished Avifc of Gen. Reidezel, and 
several other excellent women, whom Gen. Burgojaie had no doubt 
induced to become followers in his train under the delusive hope of 
being sharers in the benefits of his conquests, were among the hap- 
less witnesses of the scene. It would have evinced the good sense 
as well as the gallantry of the courtly chief, had he resigned the execu- 
tion of that episode in his tragic story to the fair companions of his 
ftite. 

" Gen. Burgoyne was a courtier ; and his talents were better fitted 
to the Court of St. James than to the theatre of American warfare. 
He had ambition, but it was a selfish one. He had no pretensions to 
magnanimity. He held the Americans and their cause in contempt. 
I recollect no indication of humane sentiment from the commence- 
ment of his career to his final overthrow and disgrace." 

Among military men swords are often the brightest records of their 
character and success. In Gov. Brooks's family are several comme- 
morative swords. One called the " straight gilt scabbard sword," 
has the following engraved inscription : — 

" To Ilio Excellency John Brooks, Commander in Chief of the 



Militia of Massachusetts, and twice Commander of the Ancient 
and Honorable Artillery Company, this Sword is most respect- 
fully presented by that Ancient Corps, in full confidence that it will 
be wielded with glory and success in War, and be preserved untar- 
nished in Peace/' 

On the other side was the following : 

" Presented on the field in Boston, June 2d, 181*7 ; and on the 180th 
anniversary of the Institution," 

The sword, worn by Col. Brooks in the battle at Saratoga, Oct. Tth* 
1111, has been presented by A. L. Rawson, Esq., to the " Mass. His- 
torical Society." It is called " The sword of Saratoga." The sword 
carried by Col. Alexander S. Brooks through the war of 1812-14, is 
preserved. The one he wore, at the time of his death, was captured 
by his father from a Hessian officer in one of the battles of the revo- 
lution. 

Another sword belonging to Col. Alex. S. Brooks was given to his 
son George, by his mother. He was Lieutenant in the 2d Mass. Hea- 
vy Artillery in 1862, at Newbern, N. C. 

John, the son of Gov. Brooks, had a long curved sabre presented to 
him by Lafayette in Paris. It had a rich sash attached to it. This 
sabre and sash were on his person when killed in the naval battle on 
Lake Erie. 

These sword memorials ai-e preserved as historical data, and as tes- 
timonies of rank and character. 

Passed Midshipman John Brooks, son of Col. Alexander S. Brooks, 
died in Boston, June 4th, 1843. He was a devoted and tender son ; 
an affectionate brother and a gallant officer. 

The last years of Gov. Brooks were passed in the midst of loving 
neighbors and friends. His last illness was a short one. He was 
aware of his approaching end, and said to Mrs. Jonathan Brooks, his 
nearest i-elative in Medford, " I have received orders and am ready 
to march." He was indeed ready ; for the lamp of religion was with- 
in him trimmed and burning, and he was waiting for the coming of his 
Lord. 

The granite pyramid, that stands in the old burying ground, has 
the following inscription : — 

" Sacred to the memory of John Brooks, who was born in Medford, 
in the month of May, 1152, and educated at the town school. He 
took up arms for his country on the 19th of April, 1175. He com- 
manded the regiment which first entered the enemy's lines at Sara- 
toga ; and sei'ved with honor to the end of the war. He was ap- 
pointed Marshal of the District of Massachusetts by President Wash- 
ington, and after filling several important civil and military offices, he 
was, in the year 1816, chosen Governor of the Commonwealth, and dis- 
charged the duties of that station for seven successive years to general 
acceptance. He was a kind and skilful physician ; a brave and prudent 
officer ; a wise, firm and impartial magistrate ; a true patriot, a good 
citizen and a faithful friend. In his manners he was a gentleman ; in 
morals, pure ; and in profession and practice, a consistent Christian. 
Ue departed this life in peace on the 1st of March, 1825, aged seventy- 
three. This monument to his honored memory was erected by several 
of his fellow citizens and friends, in the year 1838." 



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